NBA Trade Grades: Nets Trade Thaddeus Young To Pacers
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are a team in desperate need of a new beginning, and as great as Thaddeus Young was for them last year, it makes sense that GM Sean Marks would try to capitalize on one of the roster’s few assets to rebuild.
Brook Lopez is the team’s star, but hauling in the No. 20 pick for a good but not great player like Young is a decent return. It’s not Phoenix-Suns-getting-Markieff Morris-for-a-lottery-pick-great, but it’s still solid, even for a franchise that will still be seen as the league’s most depressing for awhile now.
Someone rescue poor Brookie Monster. You can write it off as a charitable donation at this point.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 23, 2016
At 28 years old, Young is not in Brooklyn’s future plans and for a franchise devoid of first round picks over the next few years, Marks did well to trade his way into this year’s draft. It’s not a particularly talented draft, but because of its depth, it’s virtually a crapshoot in the third tier where the Nets will be picking at No. 20.
Who knows? Perhaps someone great will fall to Brooklyn at that spot, who they’ll then be able to pair with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough as their budding core for the future.
The Nets also freed up some extra cap space, though what Marks is actually able to do with it remains to be seen. Brooklyn is not exactly the most appealing free agency destination at the moment, and the departure of Young makes that situation even worse.
The Nets after this trade in July will likely have $50m in cap space. Brooklyn, Lakers and Philly all with over $50m in room.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 23, 2016
The unfortunate reality is that the Nets are going to be an even worse team in 2016-17, which is truly unfortunate when you remember the Celtics can swap their 2017 first-rounder for Brooklyn’s. That means tanking will bear no fruit for this poor Nets franchise, and patience will be required in the emerging Marks regime.
Still, the Nets are going about their rebuild as well as can be expected under a brand new GM, who is trying to turn a bare cupboard into a fuller pantry with assets. One late first-rounder might not be a bountiful harvest, but it’s a step in the right direction as far as planting seeds for the future.
Grade: B
Next: Indiana Pacers